Legal Counsel

## Persons in these roles are expected to work from our offices in Seattle

Persons in these roles are expected to work from our offices in Seattle. On‑site requirements vary based on position and team. If you have questions about on‑site work arrangements for this role, please ask your recruiter.

Our base salary range is $175,000 – $225,000. The potential Total Direct Compensation range is $250,000 – $310,000, which includes generous bonus plans to provide a competitive compensation package.

## Who You Are

You are an agile and critical thinker who is energized by creative problem‑solving and building things. You thrive in ambiguity and dynamic environments. You enjoy learning and navigating novel and complex legal issues at the forefront of AI research and development. You listen to a team’s business needs, identify priorities, and reconcile gaps between legal and technical requirements. You build relationships across the organization to maximize business results. You juggle competing demands from many interested and energetic stakeholders. You love an aggressive deadline and relish an unexpected twist.

Please submit your application by April 30, 2026 to be considered for this role. We will start the application review process in early May 2026, followed by interviews.

## Who We Are

We are an existing legal team of three lawyers and one contracts and procurement manager. We are collegial and collaborative. We like to make up fun project names for our strategic initiatives. We work in a hybrid setting that includes a beautiful new office on Lake Union. We like in‑person whiteboard sessions. We all work with a large amount of autonomy. As a team, we are slightly more pro‑dog than pro‑cat. We are passionate about Ai2’s mission.

## Your Next Challenge

This is a rare and unique opportunity to be fully immersed in truly open and cutting‑edge AI research. The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

– Support all stages of development for open AI artifacts and technologies, including data curation, model training, release planning, and post‑release management.
– Provide direct AI counseling for applications, research demos, scientific agents, and environmental and conservation tools, including diligence, data governance, and bridging legal and technical requirements.
– Review and prepare data licenses, open‑source licenses, and related documentation.
– Create and improve frameworks for responsible AI development and processes to streamline AI releases.
– Create AI development guides, playbooks, and templates for releasing AI resources and artifacts.
– Exercise sound judgment and provide strategic and practical legal guidance that balances business priorities, nonprofit mission, compliance, and evolving AI policies and regulation.
– Provide support and due diligence across Ai2’s charitable, scientific, and educational activities and ensure that they are conducted within appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks.
– Collaborate and coach others across the organization on areas of expertise to drive success and impact.

## What You’ll Need

### Education / Certifications

– Minimum degree required: JD
– Licensed to practice law in Washington State

### Required

– 6+ years of technology transactions experience in a law firm or equivalent corporate environment.
– Experience with copyright and IP licensing.
– Experience with data governance and privacy laws like GDPR, CCPA, and/or HIPAA, and other international regulations like the EU AI Act.
– Excellent presentation and facilitation skills: polished, concise, and tailored to different audiences.
– Self‑starter: does not need daily direction or close supervision to make decisions.
– Start‑up mentality: adaptable, can pivot quickly.
– Skilled in working with ambiguity: comfortable identifying and solving for novel risks.
– Ability to adjust rapidly to new strategies and approaches for building support in a fast‑moving environment.
– Ability to work on complex issues where problems are not clearly defined and where fundamental principles do not fully apply.
– Sufficient technical experience to communicate effectively with research and engineering experts.

### Preferred

– Prior experience in AI or product counseling.
– Experience and/or interest in project management to establish or improve processes and streamline legal team efforts with existing workflows in the company.

## Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

– Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time.
– Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
– Ability to observe details at close range.
– Can work under deadlines.

## A Little More About Ai2

Ai2 is a Seattle‑based nonprofit AI research institute founded in 2014 by the late Paul Allen. Our mission is building breakthrough AI to solve the world’s biggest problems. We develop foundational AI research and innovation to deliver real‑world impact through large‑scale open models, data, robotics, conservation, and beyond.

In addition to Ai2’s core mission, we also aim to contribute to humanity through our treatment of each member of the Ai2 team. Some highlights are:

– **We are a learning organization** – because everything Ai2 does is ground‑breaking, we are learning every day. Through weekly Ai2 Academy lectures, world‑class AI experts as guest speakers, and our commitment to ongoing education, Ai2 is a place where you will continue learning alongside your coworkers.
– **We value diversity** – we seek to hire, support, and promote people from all genders, ethnicities, and levels of experience. We particularly encourage applications from women, non‑binary individuals, people of color, members of the LGBTQA+ community, and people with disabilities.
– **We value inclusion** – we understand the value that individual experiences and perspectives bring to an organization, and we are building a culture in which all voices are heard, respected, and considered.
– **We emphasize a healthy work/life balance** – we value powerful research results, but we also value dinner with family, weekends, and vacation time. We offer generous paid vacation, sick leave, and family leave.
– **We are collaborative and transparent** – we consider ourselves a team, all moving with a common purpose. We celebrate successes and jointly problem‑solve failures.
– **We are in Seattle** – our office is on the water! We have mountains, lakes, four seasons, bike commutes, a vibrant theater scene, and even kayaks outside our front door. We welcome applicants from outside the United States.
– **We are friendly** – chances are you will like every one of the 200+ (and growing) people who work here.

Ai2 is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on legally protected characteristics. You may view the related Know Your Rights compliance poster and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision by clicking their corresponding links.

This employer participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization. If E‑Verify cannot confirm authorization, the employer will provide instructions and an opportunity to resolve the issue before taking action. Employers can only use E‑Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed Form I‑9.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities as required by the ADA. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact [email protected].

## Benefits

– Medical, dental, vision, and employee assistance program coverage for team members and their families.
– Eligibility for health savings account, healthcare reimbursement arrangement, and health/dependent care FSA plans.
– Eligibility for the company’s 401(k) plan.
– $125 per month for commuting or internet expenses.
– $200 per month for fitness and wellbeing expenses.
– Up to 10 sick days per year, 7 personal days per year, 20 vacation days per year, and 12 paid holidays.
– Eligibility for annual bonuses and participation in the long‑term incentive plan.

## Additional Information

This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Team members may be required to follow other job‑related instructions and perform additional duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and may be modified to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This document does not create an employment contract other than an at‑will relationship.